Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1221 - 593

Deep within the headquarters of the Special Search Team, on its third subterranean level, lies a distinctive circular chamber.

Dark green paint coats the walls, emitting a cold sheen under the harsh glare of incandescent lights. Occasionally, low-frequency buzzing emanates from the fluorescent tubes, suggesting some unseen interference.

A constant, sharp smell of disinfectant permeates the air year-round, mingling with a faint, mysterious mist that drifts lazily across the concrete floor.

This place is strikingly devoid of any windows, enhancing the feeling of deep confinement.

An arc-shaped wall forms the inner boundary of the space, fitted with nine imposing iron doors, each clearly marked with a number.

The overall atmosphere is one of intense oppression and isolation.

Yet, adjacent to this grim setting, an eastern corridor opens into a vast hall.

This hall is equipped with multiple rows of stark, metal benches.

At this precise moment, both the benches and the aisles are packed with aspiring candidates.

This is none other than the waiting area for the spring recruitment interviews.

Behind those formidable iron doors, one finds the Special Search Team’s unique 'interrogation rooms.'

Fang Cheng and Ma Donghe are also seated on one of these benches.

Their interview slot is scheduled for between nine and ten in the morning.

To prevent any delays caused by morning traffic, they had agreed to arrive very early.

Upon entering, their attention was immediately drawn to the strange, pale mist carpeting the ground.

Ma Donghe's eyes widened in surprise, initially mistaking it for smoke from a fire.

Had it not been for the prominent banner at the entrance, emblazoned with "Special Search Team Spring Recruitment Interview Venue" in bold white lettering on a red background.

The chilling and unsettling ambiance might have easily convinced newcomers they had mistakenly wandered into the realm of the departed.

Observing their surroundings, Fang Cheng couldn't help but shake his head subtly.

The strategic placement of these interrogation rooms by the Special Search Team's leadership was anything but accidental.

Their intent was clear: to exploit the perpetually dim and oppressive environment, effectively eroding a subject’s sense of security even before formal questioning began.

It was a psychological maneuver designed to establish dominance from the very start.

And this specialized approach, aimed at dismantling psychological defenses, was now being applied to this group of candidates.

The strategy, it seemed, was proving remarkably effective.

Confronted by such a powerful organization wielding authority over life and death, amplified by the eerie and suffocating surroundings, few could maintain composure.

Some candidates were seen taking slow, deep breaths, desperately trying to calm their pounding hearts.

Others shut their eyes tightly, quietly rehearsing their self-introductions.

Despite the presence of hundreds of individuals, the entire hall was cloaked in an unnerving silence.

Save for hushed whispers and the soft shuffling of footwear, the only recurring sound was the resonant clang of the iron doors opening and closing.

Every soul present had their nerves frayed, keenly attuned to the nine heavy, soundproofed iron doors within the inner circle.

As these doors swung open and shut, candidates either entered or emerged.

A total exceeding two thousand individuals would undergo this trial by selection.

Although the Special Search Team had thoughtfully scheduled most of the straightforward administrative interviews for the following day to manage the applicant flow, the current pace remained remarkably slow.

Based on the rate of processing, it was highly probable this interview session would drag on until late into the night.

Fang Cheng cast a glance at the wall clock, shifted his posture, and leaned back comfortably against the chair.

After a period of observation exceeding thirty minutes, he began to discern a pattern.

Candidates applying for administrative roles spent a remarkably short time inside, usually exiting within approximately five minutes.

Possessing sharp hearing, Fang Cheng overheard a few relieved whispers from these individuals.

It appeared the interviewers inside were content with posing a few standard questions, verifying identification details, and then concluding the process.

The entire procedure seemed exceptionally low-stress.

Conversely, the candidates vying for special duty positions faced an entirely different experience.

Their time within the rooms extended to at least ten minutes, with some remaining for nearly half an hour.

When the heavy iron doors swung open once more, these individuals – often proud police academy graduates and martial arts enthusiasts – typically emerged with ashen faces, their bodies slick with sweat.

A few even stumbled out, their legs nearly collapsing, forcing them to brace against the wall, their expressions suggesting they had just endured a nightmarish ordeal.

Fang Cheng subtly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. After a moment of contemplation, he felt he had grasped the operational strategy employed by the Special Search Team's leadership.

The applicants for clerical positions were, for the most part, ordinary citizens.

These individuals had already successfully navigated stringent political background checks during the application phase.

During the interview itself, the keen insight of experienced examiners was deemed sufficient to detect if a typical individual harbored deception or concealed ulterior motives through a few brief interactions.

Provided their backgrounds are clear, there's no need to spend excessive time on them.

However, special duty roles are a distinct matter.

These gifted Martial Artists and the students from the police academy constitute the essential strength for the future missions of the Special Search Team.

To thwart attempts by other factions to infiltrate with undercover agents, or to identify and remove individuals harboring dangerous antisocial tendencies, the Special Search Team implements rigorous scrutiny at every entry point.

After all, the most vulnerable points of any fortification are often those within.

For the senior officials within the Special Search Team, this interview likely represents the most critical evaluation of the entire spring recruitment drive.

Just as Fang Cheng was lost in thought, the metal door of Room Five swung open.

A candidate emerged, clad in athletic wear and possessing a refined appearance.

He visibly relaxed his tightly fastened collar and took deep breaths, his shirt's back thoroughly soaked with perspiration.

Fang Cheng had previously checked the candidate's application, noting that this individual, much like himself, had applied for a medical position.

Performing a quick calculation, Fang Cheng observed that this person had remained inside for a full twelve minutes.

Based on the established pattern, Fang Cheng pondered: does the medical position fall under the category of clerical duties or special assignments?